CONTENT AND FORM I
Contemporary Estonian Graphic Design 2001–2011
21.04.–17.06.2012 Estonian Museum of Applied Art and Design
The exhibition ‘Content and Form I – Contemporary Estonian graphic design 2001–2011’ will display works of new-generation Estonian graphic designers who are mainly active in the field of culture. Born in the 1980s and grewing up in the 1990s, these are designers who have started their professional careers in the new century and are mostly woking as freelancers. This is also the first generation of Estonian designers of whom many have received their professional education abroad.
The title of the exhibition is a paraphrase from the exhibition series ‘Ruum ja vorm’ (Space and Form), started at the end of the 1960s, which introduced new formal design inventions, made visible the role of design in organising everyday life and posed a question for whom and why to design.
Adding to these questions of form and style, the new generation of Estonian designers is also interested in issues of content – what to design, how to design and whether to design at all. Parallelly with working for clients, these designers start projects on their own initiative, avoid agency-based advertising jobs and prefer cultural, social and educational projects.
While the ‘Space and Form’ exhibitions were aimed at decorating the environment dominated by stereotypical buildings and products, the works on display at this exhibition are not so much opposed to standardisation but stand against the domination of of the market and its accompanying mechanisms, prescribing its terms to the work of the designer.
The exhibition will feature posters, books, brochures, flyers, macro graphics, illustrations, typefaces, films, animations, installations, skateboards, T-shirts, postcards, and information graphics.
The exhibition will also be accompanied by an extensive catalogue, focusing closely on the works on display, explaining their production process and placing them within a wider cultural context.
Participants:
Ranno Ait, Tuuli Aule, Keit Ein, Jaan Evart, Mikk Heinsoo, Jaak Kaevats, Johan Kallas, Risto Kalmre, Elisabeth Klement, Anton Koovit, Fred Kotkas, Kadri-Maria Mitt, Ott Metusala, Margo Niit, Katja Novitskova, Kaarel Nõmmik, Laura Pappa, Ronald Pihlapson, Koit Randmäe, Rene Rebane, Indrek Sirkel, Timo Rohula, Triin Tamm, Toom Tragel, Jan Tomson, Mihkel Virkus, Epp Õlekõrs … and many more …
Curator:
Indrek Sirkel
Exhibition design:
Neeme Külm ja Ralf Lõoke
Exhibition team:
Anu Vahtra, Mikk Heinsoo, Aivar Lindmets, Margo Orlov, Ott Metusala, Ranno Ait, students of the Graphic Design Department of EAA
Organised by:
Lugemik Publishers and the Graphic Design Department of EAA
Supported by:
Cultural Endowment of Estonia, Estonian Academy of Arts, Antalis, Tallinn Book Printers, Moe Viin 1886, Hobusepea Gallery
